LNG & Air Filtration

LNG

With the development of shale gas and the high gas prices overseas, LNG export projects are multiplying in North America. A large majority are planning to use gas turbines to power their compression trains and as such, require an air inlet filtration system. Standard OEM supplied filtration systems do not always take into consideration the specific needs of LNG sites. Mainly located in coastal and industrial locations, they have to support the double burden of salt laden air and high dust load from their neighbouring industrial activities. LNG export requires continuous production, and as such, reliability and availability are highly critical.

Greenfield Plant on the Coast

One company realized the challenges they were facing and decided to invest early on to ensure they limit potential operating issues. Their future LNG plant will be located on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, in an industrial area with high particulate matter.

Why are LNG sites so challenging?

Salt-laden coastal or offshore sites

Typically industrial settings with high dust levels

High value of continuous production, means reliability and availability are highly critical

Availability requirements highlight the importance of reducing compressor washes, downtime for final filter change and lowering maintenance by preventing corrosion and erosion

A Step By Step Evaluation

Camfil proposed a step-by-step evaluation. Air sampling was first performed to analyse the size and concentration of the dust. After that, multiple life-cycle cost analyses were performed to identify an optimised inlet configuration.

A life-cycle cost analysis is an in-depth computer generated analysis of all the variables relevant to the filtration system choice: the environment, the pollutants in the air, the turbine model, the airflow, the heat rate, the cost of fuel, the average value of each MW produced, the cost of lost production due to downtime for compressor wash, filter change or maintenance schedule, system and filter pressure drop cost, the filter disposal cost, how fouling or pressure drop affects power out as well as CAPEX consideration.

Selection and On-Site Testing

The software simulation helped narrow the selection down to a 3-stage system with a final E12 stage. Selecting the right efficiency was just the start. Efficiency is a laboratory measurement done under dry controlled conditions. However, power plants are not located in laboratories. Actual site conditions and particle types vary widely and actual filter construction also influences performance.

To finalize selection, it was decided to bring a CamLab - an onsite testing trailer - on the future site to monitor the performance of the different recommended filtration options during 3 months of operation.

The Camlab test ran 4 filter combinations side-by-side:

The OEM proposal: an M6 bag pre-filter and a final F9 compact mini-pleat

An F7 pre-filter with a compact final E10

A compact F9 with an extended 24" depth compact E12

Camfil recommended 3 stage system, an M6 pre-filter followed by an F9 mini-pleat and an E12 mini-pleat as final

Camfil's recommendation was based on the LCC analyses and a successful LNG installation in Trinidad and Tobago - 26 units running for more than 4 years with no signs of power degradation (i.e. no improvement recorded after the washes that are performed based on the OEM recommended maintenance schedule).

The conditions at the site were hot and humid, with average dust mass
concentrations of 30-40 µg/m³, and spikes as high as 120 µg/m³.

Standard OEM
M6-F91

Standard
F7-E10

Camfil
F9-E12 3V 6002

Camfil
M6-F9-E12 4V 300

Average efficiency on 0.4 µm

85.71%

99.01%

99.99%

99.99%

Initial final filter dP (" w.g.)

0.65

0.90

0.70

1.40

Final filter dP - 3 months ("w.g.)

0.66

0.95

0.79

1.42

Life Cycle Cost Estimation (20 years, incl. CAPEX)

30M USD

14M USD

11M USD

13M USD

On-Site Monitoring Results

The CamLab‘s first test confirmed the harshness of the environment. 100% humidity days were frequent, and spikes in dust concentration were as high as 120 μg/m3, with a majority under a micron in size. To compare, 90% of US sites never see concentrations higher than 100 μg/m3 1. The 3-month test confirmed the superior efficiency of the two systems with the final E12 filter (99.99% efficiency vs. 85.7% means 1400 times less particle penetration2).

With availability in mind and assuming the site would change pre-filters while online, the second factor to consider was the pressure drop increase on the final filter and what it meant for filter life. The pressure drop increase, on the OEM recommendation as well as the 3-stage E12, were minimal despite the lower efficiency for the OEM system that let small particles pass through the final filter. The test showed the 3-stage E12 design had a lower pressure drop rise of the final filter from contaminant loading, as compared to the 2-stage F9 system (0.02" w.g. compared to 0.09" w.g.).

Final selection was made for the 3-stage system, but with the extended 24" depth CamGT 3V-600 as the final filter. Thanks to its lower initial pressure drop and larger media area leading to a longer life, expectations are that in baseload operations, the final 24" deep E12 filters would last even longer than the 5 years life of the 12" depth.

The small CAPEX increase for a 3-stage system with EPA grade final filter has proven its value in terms of performance during testing as well as in the field.

Site Data

Total run time

3 months / 1278 hours

Median relative humidity (RH)

96%

Median temperature

83 °F (28.3 °C)

Average dust concentration (µg/m³)

30-40

Peak dust concentration (µg/m³)

120

1 Per En779:2012

2 The extended 3V-600 has twice the depth as the 4V-300 12" compact filter, thus offering a lower pressure drop at the same efficiency. LCC estimation with 3-stages and final filter 24" depth: 12M USD.

For more than half a century, Camfil has been helping people breathe cleaner air. As a leading manufacturer of premium clean air solutions, we provide commercial and industrial systems for air filtration and air pollution control that improve worker and equipment productivity, minimize energy use, and benefit human health and the environment. We firmly believe that the best solutions for our customers are the best solutions for our planet, too. That’s why every step of the way – from design to delivery and across the product life cycle – we consider the impact of what we do on people and on the world around us. Through a fresh approach to problem-solving, innovative design, precise process control and a strong customer focus we aim to conserve more, use less and find better ways – so we can all breathe easier.

The Camfil Group is headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, and has 30 manufacturing sites, six R&D centres, local sales offices in 26 countries, and 4,480 employees and growing. We proudly serve and support customers in a wide variety of industries and in communities across the world.

Still here?
We are always ready to discuss your filter related challenges.
Find a contact